Love at First Sight

Apelehama had an unidentifiable twinkle in his eye when he left for his date with Mandy. “What’s up, Dad?” His son, Jacob, inquired with a lift of his brows. His dad appeared uncharacteristically happy today when usually he had a sober demeanor.

“None of your business, Son,” his dad said with a look that warned, “Don’t go there.” Apelehama had on his best Tommy Bahama shirt, usually reserved for Sunday, a soft olive green color with beige grass and leaves. He knew the coloring complemented his dark skin nicely.

Earlier in the day, he had gone to Hal’s Barber Shop, so Hal could tame his wild head of hair. Hal had asked him a similar question, “What’s going on, Apelehama?” He had said nothing, just shook his head.

He planned to pick up Mandy at five o’clock in the afternoon. The sun set around six o’clock to six-thirty in the evening, since the island never went on daylight savings’ time.

Mandy lived over on the Poipu side of the island, in one of the big houses facing the ocean on The Point. When Apelehama arrived at Mandy’s at five o’clock in the afternoon, Mandy was ready. She wasn’t one of those women who were always late. She believed that everyone’s time was just as valuable as her own time was.

Mandy looked like a princess this evening. She wore an ankle-length, soft green and lavender, spaghetti strapped dress in a simple drop-waist style. Her white skin had tanned to a golden glow in the last few weeks from all her work in the yard. The effect was very striking. She also wore simple diamond earrings, a silver bracelet, and an aquamarine ring, just enough and not too much. Mandy didn’t like big earrings, like many women. To complete her ensemble, Mandy wore strappy, silver, low heels, sensible but exquisite.

Mandy met Apelehama at the door, “Good evening, handsome man,” she cooed and gave him a hug. She loved the feel of the soft hair on the back of his neck and his scent of citrus cologne. She felt it was very sexy, but then who could resist six-feet, four-inches of a statuesque Hawaiian Adonis, who possessed the grace of an athlete. She tossed her red bob haircut out of her eyes to reveal the shining blue-green wonders that he so adored.

“You become lovelier each time I see you, Mandy. How do you do it?” He admired her stunning beauty as he held her around her waist, and the reality of her love caressed his heart. Apelehama hadn’t meant to fall in love at first sight. He generally was not impetuous, but it was something that was completely out of his control. The vulnerable and guileless expression on her face had spoken volumes about her personality, and he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. He had simply strolled to the door of the meeting room for The Third Quarter group at church and escorted her to a chair, next to him, of course.

“It has a lot to do with you, my love. You chase away the blues,” Mandy smiled lovingly up at his imposing stature as she held his large brown hands in hers. She stroked his handsome face with her long elegant fingers.

The two of them always seemed to be so happy together. Jacob and Francine had recently met an Apelehama that they had never known before: light-hearted, sweet, and with a sense of humor. Until Mandy, they had only known the quiet, serious, and wise Apelehama. It was obvious that Apelehama and Mandy brought out the best in each other.

Apelehama held Mandy’s hand as they walked down the front steps to his truck. He opened the passenger-side door for her, and helped her up into his truck. In the gentle trade winds, the sweet smell of wild ginger wafted through the air and the perfect temperature hovered around seventy-eight to eighty degrees. The day felt like a blessing to be alive in God’s kingdom.

Mandy relaxed and enjoyed Apelehama’s company. There didn’t seem to be any reason to talk. He quietly drove them to the Wailua River boat landing where a covered boat and a driver waited for them. He held Mandy’s hand and helped her into the boat. He directed her to the bench at the back where they could sit together, and he could put his arm around her.

Apelehama directed the boat captain to drive slowly. He didn’t want gas fumes to ruin the evening. A slight, light shower created a rainbow through the sunshine and made all the plants appear sparkling fresh and new. When they arrived at the Fern Grotto, he helped her out of the boat. He held her hand and guided her to one of the first seats just inside the lava cave. The philodendrons and ferns glistened like diamonds with the freshly fallen rain and magically reflected the evening sun.

Mandy sat quietly, but her heart knew even though she said nothing. She watched him pull up his pant leg slightly and go down on one knee. He peered solemnly into her turquoise jewels. She felt as if she was on stage in an enchanted drama where the actors discover that they have heartfelt feelings for each other.

Apelehama opened the ring case, which contained the five-carat, princess-cut diamond he had chosen. It was simple and lovely, big enough for her to realize the depth of his love, and uncomplicated enough to complement her sophisticated style. He had no long speech prepared. He only asked with earnest desire in his gravelly baritone, “Mandy, would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

This moment couldn’t be more enamored, Mandy thought. Goose bumps arose on her arms, but it wasn’t cold. “It would be my honor, Apelehama,” Mandy said with sweet sincerity and emotion, “I love you.”

“I love you, too, ” he countered with a catch in his throat. He slipped the ring on her finger where it fit perfectly. He took Mandy’s hand, pulled her up to his chest, and kissed her passionately. The fire in him took her breath away. She blushed and felt a little faint as she leaned into him. Without another word, he took her hand, and walked her back to the boat. They didn’t need any pictures of the moment because they would remember it forever in their minds.

They glided back down the river. When they reached the landing, Apelehama lifted her in his arms and carried her out of the boat with ease. Something about the motion said that she was now his. It was a motion that seemed too personal until now. She luxuriated in his touch in a manner that no woman had ever exhibited before, and it made him feel like a king. At seventy-two years of age, he was not a shy fiancé. No, he would make certain that he was man enough for her.